Clean lines recast a kitchen in contemporary sophistication
A kitchen remodel may seem like a concise design intervention, but for this older house, the reimagined room lent new life to the entire residence. An airy elegance now suffuses the space—formerly awash in heavy wood. Clean white cabinetry flank the gourmet gas stove, hiding both the fridge and freezer behind custom panels that blend into the contemporary aesthetic. Even the hood is sheathed a white cube tipped in walnut.
Brass fixtures lend glamour, while the gleaming quartz countertop adds natural sophistication. Pocket drawers in the island encourage kids to do homework amid food prep, epitomizing the call for family-friendly functionality that drove the project. An adjoining powder room continues the contemporary refresh with its new sculptural sink and faucet—seemingly small changes that yield big impact. A modern makeover achieved in decisive details.
Every spring, Elisa drives around awestruck by the explosion of fresh growth in the valley. Along Teton Pass. Down Snake River Canyon. Everywhere she looks, a riot of green greets her. Thanks to the continued wet weather, the lush profusion has carried into early summer.
“It’s hard to comprehend how many greens exist in nature: evergreen, brown green, rich blue-green. Even the green of grass looks different when mowed or wild,” Elisa says. “I only think about green in the spring, probably because we are so color-deprived all winter. There is hope and life after a Jackson winter.”
Despite being a self-professed “blue girl,” this verdant profusion has—quietly, subtly—made its way into her interior design. A review of recent projects reveals a bounty of green hues accenting her otherwise neutral aesthetic.
The shades’ names alone speak to their sourcing in nature: citrus, forest, fern, moss, sage, pear, basil, pine, seafoam, kelly, lime, crocodile. Texture and pattern enliven such hues: boldly graphic upholstery feels more grounded in forest; an Ann Sacks mosaic tile feels freshly antique with its verdant tones; an open weave makes a pistachio textile seem less pastel, more organic. By carrying the natural inspiration into her design applications, Elisa makes green moments feel as fresh, as welcome, as spring itself.
The heart of the home can be both serene and functional
For Elisa, kitchens epitomize the dualism of home design: a kitchen must achieve total functionality as well as complete serenity—characteristics that threaten to conflict if not expertly balanced. As such, Elisa considers kitchens successful when they meet the needs of the people who occupy them, while simultaneously providing them with a refuge from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives. “It’s a puzzle,” she says. “You are trying to take all of these pieces from a client and put them together in perfect union.” She designs homes—and specifically, kitchens—as harbors from the hectic world, and therefore the following “trends”—compiled for a feature on The Scout Guide—speak less of implementing new styles and more of responsively listening to individual living patterns.
Forget kids gloves
Some may shy away from using marble in a kitchen built for four young kids. Not Elisa: she finds beauty in the texture that accumulates with high traffic. Gone is the gloss of its original polished finish; now the island feels honed, like those found in historic villas in Italy. Far from finicky, the countertops tell the family’s story: of the red wine spilled by the father only months after moving in—the rose stain that seeped into the porous surface now only a memory shared with laughter (and praise of Comet); of the countless evenings spent making fresh pasta; of the kids hunching over their homework atop the island stools. Every element of this kitchen has proved to be user friendly, particularly the MVP marble.
Embrace color
To enliven a jewel-box guest cabin, Elisa applied pops of buoyant blue, including painting all of the custom cabinetry in the kitchen. Small spaces require multifunctional elements; everything must have a purpose. Color softens such functionality, introducing a refreshing brightness into quaint quarters, all while maintaining the calm of clean lines.
Let there be light
To breathe new life into a century-old homestead cabin (and its subsequent log addition), Elisa insisted on adding more light, even when the architect thought it impossible. By cutting the pair of panoramic panes and the portal above the backsplash, the kitchen now feels airy and expansive, a modern aesthetic underscored by the exquisite treatments used throughout, from the blackened steel hood to the walnut cabinetry and Taj Mahal quartzite slab island (topped by a bison-hide bowl). Historic and contemporary can coexist.
Timeless as trend
A mahogany-and-stone-clad kitchen still feels as sleek and new as when it was originally designed a decade ago. When Elisa thinks about trends, she often rests on what endures: functionality and serenity. No matter the style, a kitchen fulfills its purpose when it allows for effortless gathering around food—true of this kitchen with its expansive counterspace, all on the same plane. Seamless cooking and sharing have become a hallmark of the clean space, which makes it a testament to timelessness.
